Escaping Default Decisions: Designing a Calmer Business with Susan Boles

In the constant push for growth, productivity, and squeezing every ounce of output from our businesses, we rarely stop to ask: What if the goal isn’t to do more? What if it’s to create more space?Operating at 150% capacity might feel like the norm, but that’s only because we’re operating with what Susan Boles calls “default decisions.” Instead, what if we focused on building businesses with margin. Yes financial margins, but going beyond those margins to include emotional and energetic margins?“When you broaden your definition of margins, it gives your business a lot of expansiveness.” - SusanSusan Boles, founder of Beyond Margins, helps business owners create sustainable, human-centered businesses that prioritize calm over chaos. Susan’s approach isn’t about sacrificing profit for peace—it’s about designing a business that works for you, not the other way around. She believes businesses should function at 50% capacity, so when the inevitable chaos hits, you’ve got the space to handle it.In today’s episode, Susan shares how to create breathing room in your business, build systems that serve humans first, and let go of default decisions that lead to burnout. We talk about how Susan had to unlearn urgency, build in rest, and operate at odds of the default expectations of building a business.In today’s episode, hear us dive into a calmer business:* Why building margin into your business is essential and how it helps you weather inevitable chaos.* The "puppy dog" approach to building your business network (and why curiosity and friendliness go further than you think).* The difference between financial, emotional, and energetic margin, and how to build all three.* How Susan’s “potato or tornado” work style inspired a business model that respects her capacity.* Why default decisions are running your business (and how to make them intentional instead).* How standardizing your services first makes automation more effective (and less of a mess).Missed our episode about Simplicity over Systems? You can listen to that here: https://aggressivelyhuman.substack.com/p/11-simplicity-over-systemsAbout Our Guest:Connect with Susan BolesListen to the Beyond Margins PodcastDownload the Services Swipe FileConnect with Us:View the Full Show notes on our Substack: https://aggressivelyhuman.substack.com/Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com